During his visit to New York City, King Charles III traded formal engagements for a hands-on community experience, making a solo stop in Harlem at a thriving urban farm that is transforming local lives.
Arriving on the afternoon of April 29, the monarch was welcomed by Tony Hillery, founder and chief executive of Harlem Grown. The organization operates urban farms aimed at youth development, education, and community empowerment in one of the city’s most historic neighborhoods.
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Guided by students from Thurgood Marshall Lower Academy, the King toured the site’s raised planting beds, greenhouse, composting stations, chicken coops, and even bee hives, elements that together create a sustainable oasis in the middle of a city block.
The visit quickly turned lively when the King, known for his passion for agriculture, became particularly engaged with the farm’s chickens. Staff joked that Hillery had to gently pull him away to continue the tour. Charles, who keeps chickens at his Highgrove House residence, appeared right at home.
In a symbolic exchange, Hillery received a gift of honey produced by bees from Highgrove, underscoring the King’s long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability and organic farming.
After the tour, Charles briefly greeted members of the public gathered behind security barriers, even joking about the inconvenience caused by road closures linked to his visit.
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla carried out her own engagement across the city, visiting the New York Public Library. There, she celebrated literature and her charity initiative alongside notable figures including Sarah Jessica Parker and Anna Wintour.
The Harlem visit formed part of the royal couple’s broader U.S. itinerary, which began in Washington, D.C. and included high-level engagements such as a White House dinner with Donald Trump and an address to Congress.
For Harlem Grown and its young participants, however, the moment stood apart, an unexpected intersection of royalty and grassroots community work, highlighting the global relevance of local efforts to build sustainability, education, and opportunity from the ground up.
